Caractacus: The Powerful Celtic King Who Defied Rome | Ancient Origins 4 May, 2015 - 21:18 Bryan Hill Caractacus: The Powerful Celtic King Who Defied Rome (Read the article on one page) Caractacus was a king and tribal leader of the ancient Britons during the Iron Age and ruler of the Catuvellaunui, a powerful British tribe. He was the son of a Celtic king named Cunobeline and ruled Briton from 43-50 AD. Caractacus is associated with the expansion of his tribe’s territory with his apparent success being a catalyst for the Roman invasion of Britain. When the Romans launched their invasion in the summer of 43 AD they attempted to absorb it into the Roman empire. While other tribes in Britain, such as the Dobunni, submitted to the Romans, Caractacus fought fiercely for the independence of his people. When the Emperor Claudius launched an invasion of Britain, it was a massive undertaking and intervention which would ultimately lead to more than 350 years of Roman control. Four legions supported by auxiliary troops made up an invasion force of more than 40,000 men.

Despite what must have seemed like overwhelming Roman strength, there was strong native resistance. The land that is now Britain wasn't fully conquered until nearly 40 years after the initial invasion and even then, Rome never fully succeeded in conquering and subduing all of the peoples. There was always a need for a significant military presence to control the threat from unconquered tribes and the vast majority of the populace would remain relatively untouched by Roman civilization. However, Caractacus and his people were not so fortunate. Caractacus, King of the Britons ( Wikimedia Commons ) Despite a valiant attempt at opposing the Romans, Caractacus was defeated by the Romans at the Battle of Medway. Despite being pursued by the empire, he managed to slip away and hold out for seven years in the Welsh mountains where he carried on a type of guerrilla warfare against them. Caractacus was finally defeated at The Battle of Caer Caradoc in Wales to Roman governor, Ostorious Scapula in 51 AD. As he was not killed in battle, he fled northward and took refuge with a tribe known as the Brigantes.

Unknown to Caracatcus, their Queen Cartimandua was allied with the Romans and willingly handed him over to them in chains as a war prize (the Brigantes later revolted against Cartimandua). For the Britons, the defeat and capture of Caractacus marked the end of a century of leadership under the Catevellaunan nobles. With the capture of Caractacus, much of southern Britain from the Humber to the Severn was pacified and garrisoned throughout the 50s. Brigantine Queen Cartimandua Known for: making peace with the Romans rather than rebel against their rule Occupation: queen Dates: about 47 - 69 CE Cartimandua Biography In the mid-first century, the Romans were in the process of conquering Britain. In the north, extending into what is now Scotland, the Romans faced the Brigantes. Tacitus wrote of a queen leading one of the tribes within the larger group of tribes called the Brigantes.

He described her as "flourishing in all the splendor of wealth and power." This was Cartimandua, whose name includes the word for "pony" or "small horse." In the face of the Roman conquest's progress, Cartimandua decided to make peace with the Romans instead of confronting them. She was thus allowed to continue to rule, now as a client-queen. Some in a neighboring tribe within Cartimandua's territory in 48 C.E. attacked the Roman armies as they moved forward to conquer what is now Wales. The Romans successfully resisted the attack, and the rebels, headed by Caractacus, asked for aid from Cartimandua. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World Instead, she turned Caractacus over to the Romans. Caractactus was taken to Rome where Claudius spared his life. Cartimandua was married to Venutius, but wielded power as a leader in her own right. A struggle for power among the Brigantes and even between Cartimandua and her husband broke out.

Cartimandua asked for help from the Romans in regaining peace, and with the Roman legion behind her, she and her husband made peace. The Brigantes did not join the rebellion of Boudicca in 61 C.E., probably because of Cartimandua's leadership in maintaining good relations with the Romans. In 69 C.E., Cartimandua divorced her husband Venutius and married his charioteer or arms bearer. The new husband then would have become king. But Venutius raised support and attacked, and, even with Roman assistance, Cartimandua couldn't put down the revolt. Venutius became king of the Brigantes, and ruled it briefly as an independent kingdom. The Romans took Cartimandua and her new husband under their protection and removed them from her old kingdom. Queen Cartimandua disappears from history. Soon the Romans moved in, defeated Venutius, and ruled the Brigantes directly. Importance of Cartimandua The importance of Cartimandua's story as part of Roman Britain's history is that her position makes clear that in Celtic culture at the time, women were at least occasionally accepted as leaders and rulers.

The story is also important as a contrast to Boudicca's. In Cartimandua's case, she was able to negotiate a peace with the Romans and stay in power. Boudicca failed to continue her rule, and was defeated in battle, because she rebelled and refused to submit to Roman authority. Archaeology In 1951 - 1952, Sir Mortimer Wheeler headed an excavation at Stanwick, North Yorks, in northern England. The earthwork complex there has been studied again and dated to the late Iron Age in Britain, and new excavations and research were carried out 1981 - 2009, as reported by Colin Haselgrove for the Council of British Archaeology in 2015. Analysis continues, and may reshape the understanding of the period. Originally, Wheeler believed that the complex was the site of Venutius, and that Cartimandua's center was to the south. Today, more are concluding the the site is that of Cartimandua's rule. Recommended Resource Nicki Howarth Pollard. Cartimandua: Queen of the Brigantes . 2008.

More women's history biographies, by name: Kingdoms of British Celts - Brigantes Brigantes (Britons) Incorporating the Carvetii, Gabrantovices, Lopocares, Setantii, and Textoverdi The powerful Celtic Brigantes counted as their territory all of the north of England except Humberside. They seem in fact to have been a collection of amalgamated tribes that took their name from the Celtic goddess Brigantia (as did the Brigantii tribe in the Alps and the Brigantes of Ireland ). The Brigantes had few hill forts and their settlements were mostly in the form of small hill crofts. They were neighboured to the east by the Parisi , to the south by the Corieltavi and Cornovii , and to the north by the Novantae , Selgovae , and Votadini . (See the map of most of Europe's tribes around the first centuries BC and AD to view the tribe's location in relation to all other Celts.) The Brigantes name is a relatively simple one to break down. The Gallo-Brythonic word 'briga' supplies the base, meaning 'hill, high'.

In the branches of the language that descended from P-Celtic this became 'bryn' in Welsh, and 'bre' in Cornish, Breton, and Cumbric. In Q-Celtic Gaelic it became 'beinn'. Long before the P-Celtic variations had assumed their final form (although it is entirely unclear at precisely which point!), the word had been appropriated by these northern Britons, either to describe their habitat as 'the highlanders', or their powerful military situation as 'the superior, elevated ones'. Add on a plural suffix and you have Brigantes. While the word originally referred to a hill, it was extended to include a fort in its meaning, as these were usually on hilltops. Then this was extended in turn to refer to the goddess of the home or main fort on the hill. The word is cognate with English 'burg, berg', and the German 'birg', all meaning 'mountain', although this was also later transferred to describe a fortified settlement.

Subdivisions (or sub-tribes) seem to have existed, for instance, the later Elmetians in the district of Leeds, and others on the northern fringe of Northumbria, such as the Carvetii in the region of Carlisle (Roman Luguvalium, founded AD 79), who may themselves have only become distinctly separate when the Romans founded Luguvalium. Directly east of them along the line of the Wall were the Lopocares and the Textoverdi, while in Lancashire were the Setantii, and on the North Yorkshire coast were the Gabrantovices. Some or all of these may only have become apparent after the Roman conquest of Northern Britain. A recent discovery also mentions the Anavionenses, who are assumed to be part of the Novantae on their border with the Brigantes. The Carvetii (pronounced car-vet-ee) appear to have been particularly prominent amongst the Brigantine splinter tribes or subdivisions. The tribe's name is cognate with 'cervus', a deer in Latin. It can be speculated that they may have been followers of the god Cernunnos, the deer-antlered god.

As 'cervus' is Latin, one would assume that the Gaulish equivalent would be 'carvus'. Then there is the Latin suffix '-id' ('descended from'), and this name indicates that the Gaulish equivalent is '-et'. So Gaulish 'carvus' + '-et' is exactly cognate to the Latin 'cervus' + '-it'. The Latin suffix, '-id', the stem of '-is', is a suffix of nouns that have the general sense 'offspring of', or 'descendant of', occurring originally in loanwords from Greek ('Atreid', 'Nereid'). In addition, '-ita' is another form in Latin. Though the Latin is apparently borrowed from Greek, it seems possible that it may also have been borrowed from Gaulish. The tribe were the followers of a god with deer antlers, making them his deer (a similar example exists in the Picts of Fib). The Gabrantovices tribal name (pronounced gab-ran-to-we-ches) probably has 'gabros' at its core.

This means 'goat', or even 'horse' (cognate with both 'capra' and 'cabal', 'goat' and 'horse'). Horse seems more likely as this was a far more prestigious animal to the Celts. The second element may be *anatī-, meaning 'soul', which is related to *anatlā-, meaning 'breath'. And then there is the last element, 'vic', which may be *wīk-ā- (?), meaning 'fight', and *wik-ari- (?), meaning 'fierce', and *wik-e/o-, again meaning 'fight'. Since the Celts put modifiers after the nouns this could be rendered into English along the lines of the 'fighting horse spirits' - dramatic enough for any Celts! As for the the Lopocares name (pronounced lo-po-car-ees), the 'p' would be a 'k' in proto-Celtic roots, which leaves *lok- (?), meaning 'blame'. Oddly, this is very similar to the Norse god, Loki, raising the question of just how old this tradition might have been. Could he have been borrowed from Celts too (see article)?

If so then the second element is 'dear' (beloved), which equates to 'cara', and would appear to give a meaning along the lines of 'beloved of Loki'. Admittedly, that's a bit of a stretch. The Setantii name may be a misspelling (pronounced set-ant-ee), something that is entirely possible with ancient authors. If so, it may be sedos, a stag, plus 'anti' ('anati'), meaning 'soul' and providing the very eloquent 'souls of stags' as a name. And the Textoverdi is a straightforward option between two choices (pronounced text-o-verd-ee). If 'verdi' is the proto-Celtic 'werdos' then it would be the verb 'to say', or a noun meaning 'speech'. If it is 'wertos' then it would be 'worth' or 'value'. That might make sense as '[they who] obtain valuables' which would suit the Celtic magpie sensibilities. Overall, the Brigantes territory was vast, and probably formed of a looser confederation rather than a single kingdom.

The later Romano-British kingdom of Rheged was a west-coast evolution of this tribal territory, while Bernaccia , Deywr , and Ebrauc occupied much of the east coast, emerging initially as part of the 'Kingdom of North Britain ' in the late fourth century. (Additional information by Edward Dawson and Rhys Saunders, from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway, and from External Link: Brythonic Word of the Day .) c.555 BC The hill fort of Castle Hill (in modern Huddersfield in Yorkshire) is constructed in the early Iron Age period, using a site that has been occupied for about 1500 years previously. It covers the entire hill top, being made up of a triple system of ramparts and ditches. Unfortunately, much of the modern remains are not Iron Age. Instead they date from alterations made to the hill top in the Middle Ages. The scheduled ancient monument of Castle Hill in Huddersfield is dominated by its Victorian tower, but the site shows signs of settlement since at least 2000 BC c.430 BC The hill fort of Castle Hill is burnt, although the exact circumstances are unknown.

The power of the Brigantes (or their fifth century BC antecedents) grows slowly throughout the north, indicating a mostly peaceful evolution, but this may be a rare example where armed forced is used to put down resistance. AD 43 - 69 Husband and co-ruler. 43 Initially, the pastoral Brigantes accept the arrival of the Romans and act as a client kingdom, although the defences of Castle Hill are improved. 47/48 An outbreak of violence among the Brigantes forces the Roman Governor to break off his campaign against the Deceangli and deal with the rebellious faction, but the existence of an anti-Roman faction in the north is now clear. 51 Cartimandua betrays the High King , Caractacus (Guiderius), following his defeat in the territory of the Ordovices . Instead of providing him with shelter and support in his on-going fight against the invaders, she hands him over to them in bonds. 57 Cartimandua's husband, Venutius, leads a rebellion against her, probably as a ring-leader of the anti-Roman faction. The Romans put down the rebellion, and Venutius and Cartimandua bury their differences and are reconciled.

Venutius apparently retains his position as co-ruler. 69 Second husband of Cartimandua and co-ruler. 69 Cartimandua deserts her husband for his armour-bearer, Vellocatus (a name that shows again the 'vello' component that is common in Celtic names. Despite the general trend for linguists to give 'duello' (a fight) as the origin of 'bello' ('war), it seems much more likely that 'bello' / 'vello' is a Celtic-Italic root for 'war', and that 'duello' is formed from 'du' plus 'vello', which gives a 'fight between two'. Note that the name Vellocatus uses the same elements as the name of former High King Catuvellanus, but in reverse sequence. It seems likely that 'cat' means 'battle' and 'vello' means 'war'). The infuriated Venutius foments revolt within their scandalised tribe and summons help from outside. Roman Governor Vettius Bolanus sends a force of auxiliary cavalry and infantry which, amid some bitter fighting, can do little more then rescue the queen. Cartimandua disappears from history.

69 - 72 Former co-ruler and now sole independent ruler. 72 - 79 Faced with the fact that their northern border now has a hostile tribe on it instead of a cooperative client tribe, the Romans invade under the new Governor Petillius Cerialis (who had made a notable escape from total defeat during the Boudiccan rebellion in AD 61). Following a hard campaign, the Brigantes under Venutius are conquered in AD 73, but continued unrest leads to the Brigantine territory being annexed by Rome in AD 79. Isurium (Aldborough, near Ripon) appears to be a Roman creation at this time which serves as the administrative centre of Brigantine territory. Luguvalium (Carlisle) is also founded. A Flavian date can also be ascribed to many first military sites such as Ambleside at the head of Lake Windermere, showing that the Carvetii had probably been involved in the Brigantine resistance. Some archaeological evidence from the island of Lambay, and a second century map by Ptolemy, reveal the possibility that some Brigantine elements flee to Ireland and settle there.

It is only towards the end of the century that Brigantine artefacts start to appear in Ireland , in the Cork/Waterford area of the later Munster . 80 - 82 Roman Governor Agricola leads two invading columns into Lowland Scotland from the territory of the Brigantes . Over the course of three years the Votadini , Selgovae and Novantae tribes are subdued, and in AD 82, the Romans secure the Novantae western coast up to the Clyde to also contain the Damnonii tribesmen there and perhaps to prevent Irish landings. The 'crossing' mentioned by Tacitus into Novantae territory is probably a seaborne assault across the Solway Firth from the coast near Luguvalium in Brigantes territory. c.100 - 105 The northern Brigantes apparently revolt, perhaps under the leadership of Arviragus, a possible candidate for High King (as is any British chieftain who refuses to surrender to the Romans ). Arviragus seems to be responsible for the burning of the auxiliary fort at Corstopitum, as well as others, as the British tribes of lowland Scotland stage a major uprising.

By AD 100 the Romans give up Scotland, and fully establish their defences along the Tyne-Solway line. Geoffrey of Monmouth claims Arviragus as the father of Marius of the Silures . 117 The Brigantes in the north revolt again, although no other details are known. It is in this century that Ptolemy records the existence of Portus Setantiorum (the Port of the Setantii). The study of Roman roads suggests that it is located near the modern port of Fleetwood, which is off Rossall Point at the mouth of the River Wye, confirming the likelihood that the port has since vanished beneath the sea. The Setantii (or Segantii or even Sistuntii) are a sub-division of the Brigantes who are located in what is now Lancashire, possibly in territory reaching from the River Mersey in the south to the southern reaches of Cumbria, bordering the Carvetii, another Brigantine sub-division. 138 The Brigantes revolt as Emperor Antonius is pushing north from Hadrian's Wall towards the line upon which his own Antonine Wall will be constructed immediately following this revolt.

The revolt itself is quickly put down. 154 - 155 Despite over two generations of possible Romanisation (although the process is never fully effective outside of the south and east of Britain ), the Brigantes revolt again, burning down Ilkley fort (Olicana). They are soon overcome and the fort rebuilt. As a punishment, the Brigantes suffer the loss of their territories, which are broken up. It seems possible that either two civitates are formed, or an imperial estate. For a time the civilian population is probably administered under direct military rule organised and overseen by the Roman Governor before a civil administration is appointed. This modern artist's impression of Ilkley fort and town (vicus) shows the Roman-era settlement which was lost to history and was only rediscovered after 1865 c.158 - 160s Roman forts in the Pennines are reoccupied, most likely as part of the process of denying the Brigantes their territory. It could be at this time that the civitas Carvetiorum is formed out of north-western Brigantes territory, with a capital at Luguvalium (modern Carlisle).

This could also be the period in which the local British tribes in the vicinity of Leeds (Loidis) detach themselves from the Brigantes and form an alliance with the Romans, who have always found it convenient to rule by alliances with local chiefs. It is these Loidis Britons who later emerge as the Elmetians . c.200 In 2013, a carved stone head of a possible Roman god is found in an ancient rubbish dump in County Durham (the north-eastern corner of Brigantes territory). The discovery is made at Binchester Fort, near Bishop Auckland, as a team is digging through an old bath house, close to the site of a small Roman alter discovered two years beforehand. The twenty centimetre sandstone head dates from the second or third century and is similar to the Celtic deity, Antenociticus, who is thought to be worshipped in the area in times of war. A similar head with an inscription identifying it as Antenociticus had already been found in Newcastle in 1862. Antenociticus is one of a number of gods known only from the northern frontier, a region which seems to have a number of its own deities.

Antenociticus is not mentioned at any other Romano-British site or on any inscriptions from Europe, which is why it is identified as a local deity. The name Antenociticus or Anociticus appears to be composed of the elements 'night' plus the prefixes 'ante-/ande-' (against) or 'an-' (not). This would indicate an Apollo or Balder-type solar deity. Amusingly there is also the slight possibility that the noun is the word for 'naked' instead of night. So 'not naked' or 'against nudity' in that case. (The Prettanik Isles (Britain and Ireland combined) were known for social mores against both nudity and hairiness.

Caesar reports that the Britons shaved their whole bodies, leaving only the hair on their heads and upper lips, and those short.) A side view of the head of Antenociticus which measures ten centimetres from front to back and twenty from the top of the head to the base 314 Three bishops of the British Church participate in the Roman Church 's Council of Arles: Eborius of York (Brigantes territory), Restitutus of London, and Adelphius of Lincoln ( Corieltavi territory) or possibly Colchester ( Trinovantes territory). Given that York and London are leading positions in the material copied and expanded upon by Geoffrey of Monmouth, it is possible that these three bishops are the most senior members of the church in Britain . No other Roman-era sees are known for the country. c.369? Vindicianus Roman magister of the Brigantes (or Parisi ). Almost certainly as part of the rebuilding of Britain and the restoration of the army following the Barbarian Conspiracy, a tower and fort at Ravenscar are built 'from the ground up', according to an inscription found there.

The magister, Vindicianus, is responsible, but it is unclear whether the inscription refers to the original construction or its later rebuilding at this time. 4th century During the later part of the century, the Roman military command in Northern Britain gradually evolves into a Celtic military structure, presumably under the aegis of Coel Hen. Encompassing much of the Brigantes' territory, this military structure apparently emerges as the 'Kingdom of Northern Britain', which is governed from Ebrauc . As the military command evolves into a Celtic royalty, the kingdom soon breaks up into separate territories which eventually include Bernaccia , Caer Guendoleu , Dunoting , Elmet , Rheged , and The Pennines . Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes By Ellen Castelow , Contributing Writer | Comments Whilst most of us have heard of Boudica (Boadicea), queen of the Iceni in 1st century Britain, Cartimandua (Cartismandua) is less well known. Cartimandua was also a 1st century Celtic leader, queen of the Brigantes from around 43 to 69AD.

The Brigantes were a Celtic people living in an area of Northern England centered on what is now Yorkshire, and were territorially the biggest tribe in Britain. Granddaughter of King Bellnorix, Cartimandua came to power around the time of the Roman invasion and conquest. Most of what we know about her comes from the Roman historian Tacitus, from whose writings it appears she was a very strong and influential leader. Like many of the Celtic aristocracy and in order to retain her throne, Cartimandua and her husband Venutius were pro-Rome and made several deals and pacts with the Romans. She is described by Tacitus as loyal to Rome and "defended by our [Roman] arms". In 51AD Cartimandua’s allegiance to Rome was tested. The British king Caratacus, leader of the Catuvellauni tribe, had been leading the Celtic resistance against the Romans. After successfully launching guerrilla attacks against the Romans in Wales, he was finally defeated by Ostorius Scapula and sought sanctuary, along with his family, with Cartimandua and the Brigantes.

Caratacus is handed over to the Romans by Cartimandua Instead of sheltering him, Cartimandua had him put in chains and handed him over to the Romans who rewarded her with great wealth and favours. However this treacherous action turned her own people against her. In 57AD Cartimandua furthered angered the Celts by deciding to divorce Venutius in favour of his armour-bearer, Vellocatus. The scorned Venutius used this anti-Roman sentiment amongst the Celts to incite rebellion against the queen. Much more popular with the people than Cartimandua, he set about building alliances with other tribes, ready to invade Brigantia. The Romans sent cohorts to defend their client queen. The sides were evenly matched until Caesius Nasica arrived with the IX Legion Hispana, and defeated Venutius. Cartimandua was lucky and narrowly escaped being captured by the rebels, thanks to the intervention of the Roman soldiers. Venutius bided his time until 69AD when the death of Nero resulted in a period of great political instability in Rome. Venutius seized the opportunity to launch another attack on Brigantia.

This time when Cartimandua appealed for help from the Romans, they were only able to send auxiliary troops. She fled to the newly built Roman fort at Deva ( Chester ) and abandoned Brigantia to Venutius, who ruled briefly until the Romans finally ousted him. What happened to Cartimandua after her arrival at Deva is not known. Excavations during the 1980s at Stanwick Iron Age Fort, 8 miles to the north of Richmond in Yorkshire, have led to the conclusion that the fort was probably Cartimandua’s capital and main settlement. In 1843 a hoard of 140 metal artefacts known as the Stanwick hoard were found half a mile away at Melsonby. The finds included four sets of horse harness for chariots. New Page 1 aka Caractacus, Caratacus, Caradog (Welsh), Caradoc Caratacus was a son of Cunobelin or Cymbeline, king of the Catuvellauni, a powerful tribe of south-east England during the period immediately before the Roman invasion of Britain.

Along with his brother, Togodumnus, Caratacus led the defence of the country in AD 43, but they were defeated and Togodumnus was killed. Caratacus retreated westwards, and joined with the Silures, a tribe of what is now south Wales. The Romans inflicted a final, conclusive defeat on the British in around 50, and Caratacus was captured, thanks to the treachery of Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes. He was taken to Rome, where the emperor Claudius, impressed by his dignified appearance and conduct, pardoned him. Caratacus died in around 54. His fame survived for several centuries. A genealogy of an otherwise unknown British king in the Historia Britonum traced his ancestory to Caratacus. Longer An historical person with some legendary accretions, Caratacus (also spelled Caractacus) was the king of the Catuvellauni at the time of the Roman invasion under their commander, Aulus Plautius. Caratacus emerges from history as one of the few early Britons with a distinct personality, thanks in large part to the accounts of Tacitus and Cassius Dio.

He and his brother, Togodumnus, were said to be sons of the British king, Cunobelinus, and, after the king's death, became the leaders of the anti-Roman campaign that managed to resist the invaders for a period of nearly nine years.* After some early defeats in the east, Caratacus moved west into more rugged territories that would be easier to defend. His numerically inferior forces survived an indecisive engagement with the Romans in the land of the Silures (modern-day Glamorgan in Wales) and so Caratacus moved north, to the land of the Ordovices (central Gwynedd, southern Clwyd, northern Powys) to find the ideal location for a battle which he intended to be decisive. Caratacus' final defeat came at the hands of the Roman governor, Ostorious Scapula, in 51 AD. Although his forces were defeated, Caratacus was not killed in the battle and managed to escape to the land of the Brigantes in northern Britain, where he hoped to find safety and a base for future resistance to the Romans.

Unfortunately for him, Cartimandua, the Queen of the Brigantes, was bound by a client-ruler relationship with the Romans, so she handed Caratacus over to them. He was sent to Rome along with other captives, where he came to Claudius' attention for his courtesy and bearing and so was pardoned. He and his family were permitted to live out their lives in peace in Italy, but the date of his death is unknown. The account of these events is taken from Tacitus' " Annals ," Book XII (translated by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb): The army then marched against the Silures, a naturally fierce people and now full of confidence in the might of Caratacus, who by many an indecisive and many a successful battle had raised himself far above all the other generals of the Britons. Inferior in military strength, but deriving an advantage from the deceptiveness of the country, he at once shifted the war by a stratagem into the territory of the Ordovices, where, joined by all who dreaded peace with us, he resolved on a final struggle.

He selected a position for the engagement in which advance and retreat alike would be difficult for our men and comparatively easy for his own, and then on some lofty hills, wherever their sides could be approached by a gentle slope, he piled up stones to serve as a rampart. A river too of varying depth was in his front, and his armed bands were drawn up before his defences. Then too the chieftains of the several tribes went from rank to rank, encouraging and confirming the spirit of their men by making light of their fears, kindling their hopes, and by every other warlike incitement. As for Caratacus, he flew hither and thither, protesting that that day and that battle would be the beginning of the recovery of their freedom, or of everlasting bondage. He appealed, by name, to their forefathers who had driven back the dictator Caesar, by whose valour they were free from the Roman axe and tribute, and still preserved inviolate the persons of their wives and of their children. While he was thus speaking, the host shouted applause; every warrior bound himself by his national oath not to shrink from weapons or wounds. Such enthusiasm confounded the Roman general.

The river too in his face, the rampart they had added to it, the frowning hilltops, the stern resistance and masses of fighting men everywhere apparent, daunted him. But his soldiers insisted on battle, exclaiming that valour could overcome all things; and the prefects and tribunes, with similar language, stimulated the ardour of the troops. Ostorius having ascertained by a survey the inaccessible and the assailable points of the position, led on his furious men, and crossed the river without difficulty. When he reached the barrier, as long as it was a fight with missiles, the wounds and the slaughter fell chiefly on our soldiers; but when he had formed the military testudo, and the rude, ill-compacted fence of stones was torn down, and it was an equal hand-to-hand engagement, the barbarians retired to the heights. Yet even there, both light and heavy-armed soldiers rushed to the attack; the first harassed the foe with missiles, while the latter closed with them, and the opposing ranks of the Britons were broken, destitute as they were of the defence of breast-plates or helmets.

When they faced the auxiliaries, they were felled by the swords and javelins of our legionaries; if they wheeled round, they were again met by the sabres and spears of the auxiliaries. It was a glorious victory; the wife and daughter of Caratacus were captured, and his brothers too were admitted to surrender. There is seldom safety for the unfortunate, and Caratacus, seeking the protection of Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes, was put in chains and delivered up to the conquerors, nine years after the beginning of the war in Britain. His fame had spread thence, and travelled to the neighbouring islands and provinces, and was actually celebrated in Italy. All were eager to see the great man, who for so many years had defied our power. Even at Rome the name of Caratacus was no obscure one; and the emperor, while he exalted his own glory, enhanced the renown of the vanquished.

The people were summoned as to a grand spectacle; the praetorian cohorts were drawn up under arms in the plain in front of their camp; then came a procession of the royal vassals, and the ornaments and neck-chains and the spoils which the king had won in wars with other tribes, were displayed. Next were to be seen his brothers, his wife and daughter; last of all, Caratacus himself. All the rest stooped in their fear to abject supplication; not so the king, who neither by humble look nor speech sought compassion. When he was set before the emperor's tribunal, he spoke as follows: "Had my moderation in prosperity been equal to my noble birth and fortune, I should have entered this city as your friend rather than as your captive; and you would not have disdained to receive, under a treaty of peace, a king descended from illustrious ancestors and ruling many nations. My present lot is as glorious to you as it is degrading to myself. I had men and horses, arms and wealth. What wonder if I parted with them reluctantly? If you Romans choose to lord it over the world, does it follow that the world is to accept slavery?

Were I to have been at once delivered up as a prisoner, neither my fall nor your triumph would have become famous. My punishment would be followed by oblivion, whereas, if you save my life, I shall be an everlasting memorial of your clemency." Upon this the emperor granted pardon to Caratacus, to his wife, and to his brothers. Released from their bonds, they did homage also to Agrippina who sat near, conspicuous on another throne, in the same language of praise and gratitude. Tacitus, in his account, gives us all the other details but fails to name the location of Caratacus' final battle. "One particular problem that has prompted much debate centres on locating the so-called last stand of Caratacus - who had strategically chosen to move the scene of his activities from the territory of the Silures to that of the Ordovices. Folk memory or antiquarianism has given the name Caer Caradog (Caratacus' fort) to three hillforts, one dominating the Church Stretton gap, another south of Clun and the third in Clwyd. Although the second is relatively close to known Roman marching camps around Leintwardine, none have produced and evidence of investment.

Moreover, all lack the nearby river required by the Tacitean narrative. . ."A more likely possibility is offered by the massive limestone spur of Llanymynech which dominates the western edge of the north Shropshire plain. Evidence of a Roman campaign base has now emerged at the western foot of the massif close to a newly discovered Julio-Claudian fort at Llansantffraid to make Llanymynech a strong candidate for identification as Caratacus' chosen position." ** Excavations done at the above-mentioned locales have failed to produce any conclusive archaeological fruit. So, it would seem that any location that one chooses as one's favourite candidate for Caratacus' "last stand," so long as it meets Tacitus' topographical qualifications and is found in northeastern Wales or western Shropshire, is as valid a place as any. Some investigators have come to the conclusion that Caratacus is the historic original for King Arthur, while others insist that he and Arviragus , another early British figure in the anti-Roman resistance, are one and the same.

Another Writer: "Caratacus, a barbarian chieftain who was captured and brought to Rome and later pardoned by Claudius, wandered about the city after his liberation; and after beholding its splendor and its magnitude he exclaimed: 'And can you, then, who have got such possessions and so many of them, covet our poor tents?'" Cassius Dio, Roman History When, in AD 43, the Romans marched against Camulodunum, the tribal capital of the Catuvellauni, their king, Cunobelinus, had been dead for several years. His sons fought to defend the kingdom but were defeated. One was killed and the other, Caratacus, unlikely to receive support from tribes still resentful of their once powerful neighbor, took refuge with the Silures in Wales. Other native leaders, including Cogidubnus, Prasutagus of the Iceni, and Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes, capitulated and allied themselves with Rome. Caratacus continued to resist the Roman occupation until, in AD 51, he was defeated in the mountains of northern Wales.

He fled to Cartimandua, but she surrendered the fugitive, and Caratacus was sent to Rome, where he was pardoned by Claudius. This betrayal by Cartimandua caused a breach with her husband, Venutius, whom she divorced, taking his squire as her consort. There was war and, twice in AD 57, the Romans were required to intervene to save the queen. But, in AD 69, following the suicide of Nero, the Romans were embroiled in their own civil war and unable to prevent Venutius from driving her out. The client kingdom of the Brigantes, which stretched across Britain from sea to sea and had protected the northern flank of the province from the time of Claudius, now was lost to Rome. It was as Tacitus said, "Venutius inherited the throne, and we the fighting." (In time, the Brigantes were to be defeated by Cerialis and Agricola, and their territory incorported into the province.) Caractacus: Britain's Osama bin Laden? | Culture | The Guardian Charlotte Higgins on culture Caractacus: Britain's Osama bin Laden?

Iron Age Britain's most celebrated resistance leader to Roman rule was Caractacus, who evaded capture for nine years by melting away into the Welsh mountains Share on Messenger Close The second of May marks the first anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden. I've been away for five months, writing a book about Roman Britain, and, while the orchestrator of 9/11 hasn't exactly been at the front of my thoughts, he did come to mind because of something that Mary Beard said in a book review in the Sunday Times the other week. The book in question was Sam Moorhouse and David Studdard's excellent The Romans Who Shaped Britain , and Beard's memorable aperçu was: "Britain was Rome's Afghanistan". Like any such neat phrase, of course it's too neat. And yet, as soon as I read it, I could see what she meant: Britain was a thorn in the side for Rome, requiring a disproportionate number of troops and proving a huge struggle to properly subdue. It wasn't fully conquered until nearly 40 years after the initial invasion, when Agricola won the Battle of Mons Graupius in northern Scotland; and even then the Highlands were let go almost at once.

But I couldn't help too being reminded of Caractacus, the Iron Age British leader who fought against the Romans in AD 43 and, despite being assiduously pursued by the Roman war machine, managed to slip away from their grasp, head west, and hold out for seven years in his lair in the Welsh mountains, orchestrating resistance. When finally the Romans caught up with him – defeating him in battle at a north-Wales hillfort – he managed to slip away again, and sought refuge with the northern English Brigantes tribe. Which was a bad idea: Queen Cartimandua, a Roman ally, handed him over to the Romans. Claudius, with Caractacus taken alive, was able to do what the US couldn't with Bin Laden: lay on a show – carefully stage-managed to make the capture reflect as gloriously as possible on himself. As the historian Tacitus has it in his Annals, Caractacus had become a famous name in Italy – and when the Romans heard of his capture, there was a belief, entirely false of course, that Roman troubles in Britain had ended.

At any rate, "There was huge curiosity to see the man who for so many years had spurned our power," as Tacitus put it. So a parade was organised, with Caractacus and his wife and children forced to process through the city. Caractacus dared address the emperor and, according again to Tacitus, made an extraordinary speech, pointing out that under different circumstances he might have been welcomed to Rome as a friend, rather than dragged there as a captive. He then pointed out to Claudius that no one would have thought his capture a great achievement if he had surrendered immediately. And he added (I paraphrase, but only slightly): "Everyone will forget this, now, if you kill me. What would be much more memorable would be if you spared me. Then I will be an everlasting memorial to your clemency." It was a startlingly modern-sounding appeal to PR, and it worked: Claudius pardoned the Briton and his family – who lived out (we have no reason not to believe) the rest of his life in Rome.

Tacitus records his encounter with Claudius not, in fact, to demonstrate his humanity, but to show how a barbarian from the furthest reaches of the known world could get his own way, using that most Roman of skills, rhetoric. The episode lives on as not an everlasting memorial to Claudius's clemency, but to Caractacus's cunning. Which goes to show that sometimes it is shrewder for great empires to take their worst enemies dead, rather than alive. HistoryMole Timeline: Caratacus (0030-0051) Caratacus (0030-0051) Timeline 0043 CE The Romans marched against the Britons in Camulodunum, the tribal capital of the Catuvellauni. The king, Cunobelinus, had been dead for several years but one of his two sons, Caratacus, also known as Caradoc and chief of the Catuvellauni, mounted a guerrilla uprising against the Romans. More : 0051 CEThe final defeat Caratacus came at the hands of the Roman governor, Ostorious Scapula.

Caratacus was not killed in the battle and managed to escape to the land of the Brigantes in northern Britain. However, Cartimandua, the Queen of the Brigantes, was in league with the Romans and handed Caratacus over to them. Cartimandua – 43 – 69 – Britain – Rebel Women Embroidery Britain , England Cartimandua lived around the same time as the more famous Celtic queen Boudica , during the second Roman conquest of Britain . While Boudica’s circumstances forced her to fight back against Roman occupation, Cartimandua enjoyed a generally friendly and profitable relationship with Rome. The territory of the Brigantes Ruler of the Brigantes tribe in northern England , Cartimandua was queen in her own right (not through her husband or son). She came to power at a very turbulent time for Iron Age Britain, as the Emperor Claudius had invaded in 43. The less developed native Celts had never faced anything like the Roman army and were quickly subdued. Either Cartimandua’s father or the queen herself chose to co-operate with the Romans rather than revolt. As a result, the Brigantes enjoyed wealth and protection.

Among the Britons who did revolt was Caractacus, king of the Catuvellauni tribe. After his resistance was defeated in Wales, Caractacus fled to seek sanctuary from Cartimandua – who promptly handed him over to the Roman’s in chains. This even further cemented her loyalty to Rome, as Caractacus was bought back to Rome for Claudius’ triumphal parade and Cartimandua was richly rewarded. Cartimandua presents Caractacus to the Romans The queen was married to a man named Venutius, who became a figurehead of the British resistance after the capture of Caractacus. Whether for political or personal reasons, Cartimandua divorced him and quickly remarried his armour-bearer Vollocatus instead. She and Venutius became sworn emenies. In 57, Cartimandua seized Venutius’ family and held them hostage – but this would not stop him. He built up a resistance army to make war against Cartimandua and the Roman invaders. The Roman army had anticipated this and sent units to assist the queen, enabling her to retain her throne. However, Venutius simply bided his time.

In 69 the Roman empire was in turmoil due to civil war. Taking advantage of this instability, Venutius launched abother attack. This time, there weren’t enough troops to protect Cartimandua, and her only choice was to flee, leaving Venutius to usurp her. After this episode, Cartimandua disappears from historical record. The bulk of what we know about Cartimandua comes from the Roman historian Tacitus, who describes her as ‘treacherous’ for handing Caractactus to the Romans, and sexually wanton for divorcing her royal husband in favour of a common soldier. In fiction: Daughters of Fire by Barbara Erskine features Cartimandua as a main character. References: Barbara Erskine - The ï¿½Realï¿½ Caratacus - A brief overview Home > Novels > Novels > The Warrior's Princess > The ï¿½Realï¿½ Caratacus - A brief overview The ‘Real' Caratacus - A brief overview Caratacus. Caractacus. Caradoc. Caradog. The names conceal a man of many identities.

There is the Welsh hero of myth and legend, and there is the historical warrior prince, son of the powerful Cunobelinus, king of the Catuvellauni and the Trinovantes, tribes which originated in and around Essex and Hertfordshire, forming a territory north of the River Thames which stretched from the Chiltern Hills in the west to the Tendring Peninsula in the east.. Historically, When Cunobelinus's eldest son, Togodumnus succeeded his powerful father's long and successful reign, some time before the Roman invasion of AD 43, Caratacus, already showing signs of being a capable and resourceful leader began to carve out a kingdom for himself south of the Thames. It is possible to see signs of the extent of his influence from the discovery of coins bearing his head. It appears he also at this time began to forge useful alliances with his southern and western neighbours. The third son of Cunobelinus, Adminius, bitter at not being included in what he saw as a fair share out of his father's lands, helped instigate the Roman invasion by appealing to the Roman emperor, Caligula, for help against his brothers.

This appeal , while not acted on at once, was followed some time later by another to his successor, the emperor Claudius, by King Verica of the Atrebates, perhaps, ironically, driven to so by Caratacus's invasion of his territories. Claudius was persuaded that an invasion of these rich and quarrelsome islands was overdue and eager to divert attention at home from a difficult political situation he began to plan his strategy. Togodumnus and Caratacus led the opposition to the invasion but Togodumnus died or was killed as the Roman forces surged north across the Medway and the Thames, leaving his brother Caratacus to lead the opposition alone. Defeat was almost certain, but at this point Plautius, the leader of the Roman army was forced to pause in his attack on Caratacus's capital, Camulodunon, which later under the Romans became Camulodunum, to await the arrival of his emperor who wanted to lead his army to triumph in person. This gave Caratacus the chance to withdraw and regroup his troops, and allowed him to take the centre of the opposition to Rome westwards. His final defeat did not come until AD 50.

His flight to seek aid from the Celtic queen, Cartimandua of the Brigantes, her actions, as a client of Rome in handing him over to the Roman army and his transfer with his surviving family to Rome are all recorded by the Roman historians, (and me, in Daughters of Fire!) at which point the historical record moves back to Britannia to follow the further opposition of the western tribes to their Roman overlords. 'Caractacus at the Tribunal of Claudius in Rome by Fuseli, engraved by Andrew Birrell. An inexpert photo, I'm afraid, but it gives you the general idea of the nobel savage!' The Other Caratacus The other Caratacus is a focus of many myths and legends rather in the same way King Arthur, probably a Romano British war lord, became the centre of an entire body of quasi historical, poetic, legendary and mythical literature. In the case of Caratacus, the historical leader was increasingly adopted by medieval Welsh writing and probably conflated with at least one other king of similar name, and with legendary figures.

In one story, for instance, in medieval Welsh literature, Caradog is the son of Bran, son of the god Llyr, a hero of Welsh and Irish myth, who after he lost his life in battle was decapitated by his followers so that his head could after adventures en route be taken to London and buried on Tower Hill to protect the nation. In another famous Welsh collection of stories, The Mabinogion, Caratacus is described as the son of ‘Bran the Blessed'. This Bran in a Christian version of the story was credited with marrying Anna, daughter of Joseph of Arimathaea and in this version Caratacus was already a Christian before he went to Rome. There are few mentions of Caratacus's's wife by name. Eurgain is one (also listed as a daughter ) and Euvrain and there are others which sound medieval rather than Celtic. In Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the kings of Britain there is, interestingly, no mention of Caratacus, but he mentions Arviragus who corresponds to Caratacus time-wise, and is listed as the son of Kymbelinus. Bede doesn't mention him at all.

Shakespeare's Cymbeline interestingly doesn't mention him either. Welsh antiquarian, scholar, and alas, forger, Iolo Morganwg asserted that Caratacus did indeed return from imprisonment in Rome and it was he who brought Christianity back to Britain There are also stories in this category about the members of Caratacus's family who accompanied him to Rome. The historical record mentions only his wife and one daughter (and ‘brothers', but we don't know the names of any brothers beyond the three above mentioned). There is as far as I know only the one account of Eigon, which is local, and appears, as far as I know, no where else. There is also mention of Gladys, a younger daughter who was taken with them to Rome where she married the Roman senator Rufus Pudens, assuming the name of Claudia Rufina. Legend has it that the church of Santa Pudenzia in Rome was dedicated to her, and that the present building was the site of the Palatium Britannicum, once the home of Caratacus and his family.

(The church if you want to see it is located on the Via Urbano.) Subsequent history shows a very different evolution of the name, but nevertheless the original building seems to date back to the first century. According to these ancient traditions another of Caratacus's daughters became St Eurgen, Eurgan or Eurgain, married Salog, the ‘Lord of Salisbury', or Old Sarum, and founded a college of 12 Christian Druids at Caer Urgan or Llan Illtyd fawr&ldots;. On the other hand she could have been the 6th century daughter of another chieftain called Caradog&ldots; (But perhaps this name which is vaguely similar, could this be a memory of the daughter I have identified as Eigon? Fascinating!) One of Caratacus's sons (or indeed grandsons) in yet another story, was Linus , the first (or second or third according to the version one consults) Bishop of Rome. One of the books I read mentions ‘a certain amount of confusion' about all this, a description to which I heartily subscribe, while enjoying it all enormously.

When writing an novel with such ancient setting one has to navigate one's way through many sources, both historical, pseudo historical and legendary. I chose to follow as nearly as I could the historical record about Caratacus and his family but as I was writing about Eigon, the story is hers. So, I did a little cherry picking for the rest! I named Caratacus's son Togo in my story after his dead brother as I felt he would have done; I used Gladys for Eigon's sister as this was a name which appeared in the Welsh legends. Linus I preferred to ignore for the purposes of this story. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church acknowledges that someone of that name was according to most lists, bishop of Rome after Peter and Paul, but then firmly adds ‘Nothing further is certainly known'. Besides the myth and legend found in ancient and medieval texts there is some hair-raising stuff to be found on the net if you Google around any of these subjects! Judging by the amount of basic historical errors and appalling anachronisms incorporated into some of this material it is a free for all in the imaginary stakes. But then , what is a novel...?

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Question: Who was the queen of the Brigantes who handed Caractacus over to the Romans?
Answer: Cartimandua